Devices, systems, and methods for treating and preventing disease

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods configured to treat disease using electrical stimulation and therapeutic agents are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a device of the present technology comprises a first elongated shaft configured to deliver supplemental nutrition to a patient suffering from dysphagia and a second elongated shaft configured to slidably receive the first elongated shaft. The second elongated shaft can include one or more conductive elements configured to deliver electrical stimulation to nerves at a first treatment site in a pharynx of the patient. In some embodiments, the second elongated shaft includes one or more therapeutic elements carrying a therapeutic agent configured to be positioned at or adjacent a second treatment site with a pooled secretion in the patient's pharynx. The therapeutic agent can be configured to prevent or inhibit colonization of the pooled secretion by one or more pathogens. In some embodiments, the second elongated shaft includes a lumen fluidically coupled to an aperture extending through a sidewall of the elongated shaft. The aperture can be configured to be positioned at or adjacent the second treatment site with the pooled secretion. The lumen and aperture can be configured to transport fluid therethrough along a longitudinal dimension of the device to deliver a therapeutic agent to the second treatment site and/or withdraw the pooled secretion from the second treatment site into the lumen.